Tooth-brush.



T. L. BRIGGS.

TOOTfi BRUSH.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28, 1913- 1,092,014. PatentedMar. 31, 19m

' Brooklyn. in the' county of Kings and State,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' THOMAS L. BRIGGS, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

TOOTH-BRUSH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mal-.31, 1914.

To all (chem it may concern .7

Be it known that I, THOMAS L. BRIGGS, a citizen of the United States,residing at of N ew York, have invented new and useful Improvements in'looth-Brushes, of which the following is a specification.

I This invention relates to tooth brushes and has for its rimary objectthe provision of means or supporting the brush head at any desired.angle relatively to the handle whereby the bristlesof the brush may beeffectually advanced into the mouth and the handle manipulated so thatthe bristles may be drawn verticall over the teeth or made to brushhorizontally thereover.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means whereby theback may be detachably connected with the holder so that when worn itmay be quickly removed and a new one substituted therefor at a minimumcost.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the followingdescription is read in connection with the accompanying drawing, whichforms a part of this application and in which Figure 1 is a perspectiveview of the brush showing the. back adjusted in. line with the handle.Fi 2 is a similar view showing the back ad usted to lie at right anglesto the plane of the handle. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the brushholder removed from the handle. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one ofthe handle sections. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the other handlesection. Fig. 6 is a section through a portion'of the brush holder. Fig.7 is a perspective view of the locking dog. Fig. 8 is a transversesection through the handle on the line 88 of Fig. 1. Flg. 9 is a sectionon the line 9-9 of Fig. 1. Fig. 10 is a longitudinal section through thehandle and through the brush holder. Fig. 11 is a plan view of the brushholder.

The brush comprises a handle 1 which in cludes companion substantiallyidentical or mating sections 2 and 3, each being stamped from a singlepiece of sheet metal, metal, hard rubber or other suitable well-knownmaterial and provided with edge walls 4. The walls 4 of one of thesections are adapted to be brought into mutual engagement with the wallsof the other section, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and both sections areadapted to be held in secured positions by means the section andprovided with a relatively short rectangular extension 8 which isadapted to fit in a correspondingslot 9 in the other section 2 of thehandle. Theguide (S has a configuration conforming with the interiorformation of the handle so as to effectually brace both sect-ions, aswill be understood, 7 The handle sections are provided with reducedportions 10 terminating in substantially spherical annularly cupped andspaced heads 11 having alined passages 12 through which a rivet or likefastening 13 1s extended. The holder for the brush head is preferablystamped from a single piece of sheet metal and provided with a main body14 having its sides provided with guide flanges 15 which are disposed inrelatively converging relation toward the rear of the holder for apurpose to be hereinafter ex plained. Beyond the rear ends of theflanges 15 the body 14 of the brush holder is folded on itself, as at16, and provided with a substantially circular head 17 having aperipheral notch 18 and diametrically disposed similar notches 19.

The walls of the portions 10 of the handle sections are upstruck so asto provide longitudinal depressions 20 which form guides for a lockingdog 21. The dog 21 is slidable between the handle sections and, asshown, it is provided with an extension 22 which is slidable in apassage 23 in the guide 6. Between its ends, the dog is provided with alateral lug 24 against which the forward end of a spring 25 bears, theopposite end of the spring being seated against the guide 6 so that,under the action of the spring, the forward relatively pointed end 26 othe locking dog is held in an active position at all times.

The head 17 of the brush holder is provided with a passage 27 throughwhich the rivet '13 is extended, whereby the peripheral recesses 18 and19 of the head are adapted for the operative reception of the pointedend 26 of the locking dog.

The brush proper, as shown at 28, comprises a head or back 29 havingbristles 30 or the like extending from one of its fiat surfaces. Thehead conforms substantially in configuration with that of the brushholder and at the sides the head is provided with longitudinal grooves31 in which the inwardly extending edges 32 of the flanges 1.5 areadapted to be projected. In this manner the head may be detachablyfitted to the holder so that when the bristles become worn the head maybe removed and a new one substituted therefor at a minimum cost.

From the construction described it is obviously seen that the brushholder may be adjusted to lie either in line with the handle 1, as shownin Fig. 1, or at right angles to the handle, as shown in Fig. 2. In thismanner it is evident that the bristles of the brush may be extendedeither to the right or to the left of the mouth and arranged in the backor front of the teeth and manipulated thereagainst so as to effect athorough cleaning thereof.

What is claimed is A brush comprising a handle embodying substantiallyidentical sections terminating in reduced portions, said reducedportions having substantially circular extensions, said extensions beingdis osed in spaced relation, the reduced portions of the handle sectionsbein upstruck to provide axially located, relatively restrictedrecesses, a member (pivotally connected between the circular hea s ofthe handle sections, a brush head carried by said member, the said headhaving peripheral recesses, and a locking device carried by the handlesections and having a free lockin portion freely slidable in saidrecesses in the reduced portions of the handle sections and projectinginto the space between the circular heads and adapted for engagement inthe eripheral recesses so as to hold the head against pivotal movement.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS L. BRIGGS.

